Amas Premieres Musical VICTORY TRAIN in Staged Readings Ft. Judy McLane and More

Amas Musical Theatre and The Amas Musical Theatre Lab, in association with LaVie Productions, will present staged readings of Victory Train, a new musical, with book, music and lyrics by David Buskin and Jake Holmes. Directed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett with music direction by Doug Katsaros, the readings will be held on Monday, March 4 at 6pm and Tuesday, March 5 at 1pm & 5pm at Ripley-Grier Studios - Room 17E (520 Eighth Avenue - between 36th/37th Streets). For reservations, email boxoffice@amasmusical.org. For more information, please call 212-563-2565.

In Victory Train, we find a country torn apart by social upheaval and the escalating war in Vietnam where two young people try to reach across their differences to find love and honor... however, it may take them 40 years.

The cast will include Kyle Nicholas Anderson (Something Rotten), Jordan Bondurant (A Clockwork Orange), Sophie Buskin, Antoinette Comer (Mamma Mia!), John Edwards (Smokey Joe's Café), John Hillner (La Cage Aux Folles), Alison McCartan (Calamity Jane), Judy McLane(Mamma Mia!), Anthony Simone (Salome), Emma Sohlberg and Robert Zelaya. Stage Manager is Jennifer Ash. Casting by Carol Hanzel Casting.

"The 1960s was a divisive time in America and the beginning of a polarization which still divides our society today, says Amas Artistic Producer Donna Trinkoff. "The Vietnam War and the draft were catalysts for the burgeoning counterculture when women, people of color, gays and lesbians, and antiwar protesters began to find their collective voice. Victory Train looks back at those tumultuous times through the lens of two young people with opposing viewpoints, both of whom are trying to make sense of a world in chaos."

These presentations are part of the ongoing Amas Musical Theatre Lab, a development series for writers, lyricists and composers to mount public readings of their new musicals. The Lab is supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and by the Actors' Equity Association Foundation, BMI Foundation, the Barbara Bell Cumming Foundation, the Dubose and Dorothy Heyward Foundation, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, the Friars Club, the Shubert Foundation, and through the generous support of many individuals.

Bios

David Buskin (Co- Author, Book, Music & Lyrics) has been writing, recording and performing his music since 1970. He's made about fifteen albums, most as half of the duo Buskin & Batteau or one-third of the notorious "geezer band" Modern Man. His songs and jingles have been recorded by many great artists; a sample: Judy Collins, Peter, Paul & Mary, Johnny Mathis, Astrud Gilberto, Tom Rush, Dixie Carter, Roberta Flack, Mel Tormé, Take 6, Phoebe Snow, Richie Havens and Arlo Guthrie. He is a New York Nightlife Award, Bistro Award and Clio Award winner. Earlier this year he was given the ASCAP Jamie deRoy Award for excellence in songwriting. He's organized or participated in numerous concerts for organizations like The Hole in the Wall Camp, Stand for the Troops and WHY/Hunger. For the last seven years he was a principal contributor to the late Isaiah Sheffer's Thalia Follies, a thrice-yearly political cabaret in NYC. He has written special material for, among others, Bette Midler, Paul Newman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Whoopi Goldberg. He is particularly proud of his recent acting debut as The Narrator, The Peddler and The Donkey in the York Theater's revival of Sheldon Harnick's "Dragons." "Sheldon was speechless at my performance," he says proudly. "In fact, he hasn't spoken to me since."

Jake Holmes (Co- Author, Book, Music & Lyrics) is best known as a lyricist and songwriter. His music has been recorded and performed by such artists as Lena Horn, Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra, The Four Seasons and Led Zeppelin. In the early eighties, Harry Belafonte sent Jake to Johannesburg to work with South African musicians on songs for Harry's album "Paradise in Gazankulu." It was there Jake fell in love with world music. It has been an obsession ever since. Jake has recorded five albums of his own and recently completed his sixth solo effort: Dangerous Times. He has played to concert audiences throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. His Musical "Sidewalking" was produced at the Manhattan Theater Club and earned a Drama Desk Award nomination. Jake 's song "Monsters Under My Bed" and 10-minute musical "Pigmailman" can be found in the musical "Story Time with Mr. Buttermen (Fables for Adults Living in a Modern world)" which premiered at La MaMa E.T.C. and has had runs at Center Stage, NY, and Fringe NYC. Jake is internationally recognized for his impact on the world of advertising. He is the only advertising writer to be inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame for his music for commercials. His credits include "Be All That You Can be" (Us Army) "I'm A Pepper" (Dr. Pepper) "The UnCola" (7-Up), "Come See The Softer Side Of Sears" campaign, the Clio Award-winning "Little Old Ladies" for Lipton Tea and the "Less Is More" campaign for Charmin Tissues. Jake's passion for the spoken word recently led him to the Nuyorican Poet's Café where he has, on occasion, won the coveted ten dollar bill first prize.

Doug Katsaros (Principal Arranger/Music Director) is an Emmy-winning composer who has played, sung, arranged and orchestrated over two dozen gold and platinum records for artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, KISS, Judy Collins, Sinéad O'Connor, Aerosmith, Peter Paul & Mary, Bon Jovi and Cher, has conducted on Broadway and for the Boston Pops, written TV and film scores, toured the world making music with bands, and yes, he is the guy who wrote "By Mennen!"

Lynne Taylor-Corbett (Director) has been nominated for Tony Awards and a Drama Desk Award for Broadway's Swing! and received Drama Desk and Lortel nominations for My Vaudeville Man and Wanda's World. She directed and choreographed Cougar the Musical, and KICK! Off-Broadway which was nominated for an OBA and has directed numerous shows regionally. In 2020, Distant Thunder a show she wrote with son, Shaun Taylor-Corbett will be produced by The Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City. She adapted and directed The Lion King for Disney's production in Hong Kong and her choreography can be seen in feature films Footloose and My Blue Heaven. Her dance works have been commissioned by, among others, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Company, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Carolina Ballet, where she is resident guest choreographer. Numerous companies throughout the world have performed her works which have been seen on Live from Lincoln Center, Live from the San Francisco Opera House and on UNC TV. Presently, she is working on a book entitled "Token White Girl" about her experiences dancing with the Alvin Ailey company throughout Europe and Africa.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos